Some resolve to predict more predictions in 2024
With the dawn of each new year comes not only half-hearted personal resolutions (many that are quickly abandoned), but also general or global predictions about events that will take place over the upcoming year.
Some of these predictions are based on current events or trends, such as continued strife in some of the world’s most troubled hotspots right now, continued economic malaise, including more pain with inflation. Given that these predictions are often made by people who, at least by some measure, can be considered experts in their respective fields, their extrapolations regarding what the next 12 months could or will bring at least deserve some heeding.
Then there are those among us who take a more prophetic approach concerning their new year predictions. We’ve all heard or read about doom-sayers at one time or another certain the world is going to end on a certain date, or that some cataclysmic event either caused by nature, governments, or members of shadowy organizations will rise, radically changing the course of the world forever.
Recently, I happened to be on Facebook perusing posts made by friends back home. They were having a deep discussion about religion, New Age spirituality, as well as a few ideas as to the end of the world — to which a friend, who we’ll call Joe, says is on January 15... this year. Well, this week, really.
Joe, like many who share these prophetic predictions heard it from someone else, read it, made an interpretive guess, dreamed about it, felt it, or simply looked at a calendar and “eeny-meeny-miny-moe'd” it for fun.
These types of dire predictions — even Joe’s — can be interesting and even a bit unnerving depending on who you talk to. But they are nothing new; in fact, they’ve been around for as long since history offered us days ahead.
From biblical prophesies and predictions to Grigori Rasputin, the legendary Russian mystic who died in 1916, the guesses and certainties have had some hit and miss results. Rasputin, for example prophesied that a storm would take place on Aug. 23, 2013, involving fire that would destroy most life on land after which Jesus was also predicted to return. Yet here we are, 11 years later, and at least so far — knock on wood — the world is still spinning.
While many of these predictions prophesied both by famous individuals and conspiracy-theory friends might seem outlandish, some prophesized visions — or similarities to the visions foreseen by Nostradamus in the 16th Century have caused some people to take notice.
Nostradamus, the iconic French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and seer, was the author of Les Prophéties, published in 1555. He predicted events that bore a striking resemblance to actual events and people. Many believe he predicted the rise of Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, as well as the devastating attacks on the twin towers in New York City in 2001.
As far as 2024 is concerned, Nostradamus foresaw a major confrontation between the western powers and China, as well as climate chaos, amongst other truly terrifying and calamitous occurrences.
But as predictions go, let’s take them one at a time, shall we? Remember my friend thinks it’s all over on January 15. So, if you are reading this article printed in our January 16 paper, we’ll move onto the next rumour.
At the end of the day (figuratively, not literally), regardless of whether we received the news from Nostradamus or my friend Joe, predictions, like resolutions, are only as good as the result.
Good luck to us all in 2024.
